Don't Peel Carrots

Peeling carrots sounds like a healthy option until you discover what you’re discarding, phytonutrients! Carrot peels contain over half of the root’s total phytonutrient profile.

The three major layers in carrots are the:

• Peel/periderm
• Phloem (middle layer)
• Xylem (inner core)

When you peel a carrot, you lose all of the periderm and a little of the phloem. The peel has higher concentrations of cations, vitamin c, niacin, organic acids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids compared to the phloem and xylem. The only thing that removing the peel will do is lower your nutrient intake. Your neighborhood bunnies don’t try to get into your garden only for you to discard the precious peels from what you harvested!

If you want to remove any potential pesticide residues, clean your carrots as you normally would with all other produce. Soak the carrots in water with baking soda and give them a good scrub with a veggie brush.

I grow and carry four heirloom carrot seed varieties here on my site if you are looking to grow them at home this year.